Y’all! I am almost 40. As we near the new year, I can definitely feel it looming…but in a good way! I’m at a point where I’m pretty confident in what I will and won’t accomplish from my 40 by 40 list. I’ve also done a lot of reminding myself that I made that list in May of 2020. Just a few months into the pandemic, I figured we’d come out of it soon and checking everything off would be a snap. Hahahaha…lies. I’m still really proud of what I’ve done and here are the recent highlights.
2. Do Another 5K
Thank GOODNESS I didn’t say RUN another 5k because damn. I definitely did a little jogging and a lot of walking, but I finished! I did the Hot Chocolate Run in St. Louis and had the best time despite the cold and the physical activity. Like I enjoyed it so much I would totally do it again. The atmosphere was so fun and positive, people were so kind and encouraging, and, of course, you got hot chocolate at the end. Who wants to go with me in 2023?!
10. Host a Winter Solstice Get Together
This started out as the much more formal “have a dinner party” but last year for Winter Solstice, I thought it would be fun to do a little get-together to celebrate the shortest day of the year and have cozy time with friends. It was so freaking nice. I bought a bunch of flameless candles for our light and made stovetop potpourri and soup and winter spice cake. My sister was home for Christmas so she got to meet some of the friends I’m always telling her about. I loved it so much.
19. Make Bert Alyea’s Gingerbread Men at Christmas
When I was growing up, our neighbor from the house down in the woods, Mrs. Alyea, would bring my sister and me two gingerbread men each. They were incredibly delicious and a treat we always looked forward to during the holidays. When she passed away, we found out her gingerbread men had quite the reputation because they were handing out the recipe at her memorial service! This was finally the year I was ready to tackle them. My mixer’s motor is still mad about the thick dough but they turn out amazing! It was so incredible to bite into one of those cookies and taste a wonderful memory from childhood. I’m going to make them again for sure.
I think that’s a pretty darn productive December for the 40 by 40 list! I also have my 40 Accomplishments list and my 50 by 50 List ready to go, but we’ll save those for separate posts. See you in 2023!